第10章

’Go，then，myNydia，toIone’shouse——theyshallshowtheetheway。Takeherthefairestflowersthoucanstpluck；thevasewhichcontainsthemIwillgivethee：thoumustexcuseitsunworthiness。Thoushalttake，too，withtheethelutethatIgavetheeyesterday，andfromwhichthouknowestsowelltoawakenthecharmingspirit。Thoushaltgiveher，also，thisletter，inwhich，afterahundredefforts，Ihaveembodiedsomethingofmythoughts。

Letthyearcatcheveryaccent，everymodulationofhervoice，andtellme，whenwemeetagain，ifitsmusicshouldflattermeordiscourage。Itisnow，Nydia，somedayssinceIhavebeenadmittedtoIone；thereissomethingmysteriousinthisexclusion。Iamdistractedwithdoubtsandfears；

learn——forthouartquick，andthycareformewillsharpentenfoldthyacuteness——learnthecauseofthisunkindness；speakofmeasoftenasthoucanst；letmynamecomeevertothylips：insinuatehowIloveratherthanproclaimit；watchifshesighswhilstthouspeakest，ifsheanswerthee；

or，ifshereproves，inwhataccentsshereproves。Bemyfriend，pleadforme：andoh！howvastlywiltthouoverpaythelittleIhavedoneforthee！

Thoucomprehendest，Nydia；thouartyetachild——haveIsaidmorethanthoucanstunderstand？’

’No。’

’Andthouwiltserveme？’

’Yes。’

’Cometomewhenthouhastgatheredtheflowers，andIwillgivetheethevaseIspeakof；seekmeinthechamberofLeda。Prettyone，thoudostnotgrievenow？’

’Glaucus，Iamaslave；whatbusinesshaveIwithgrieforjoy？’

’Sayestthouso？No，Nydia，befree。Igivetheefreedom；enjoyitasthouwilt，andpardonmethatIreckonedonthydesiretoserveme。’

’Youareoffended。Oh！Iwouldnot，forthatwhichnofreedomcangive，offendyou，Glaucus。Myguardian，mysaviour，myprotector，forgivethepoorblindgirl！Shedoesnotgrieveeveninleavingthee，ifshecancontributetothyhappiness。’

’Maythegodsblessthisgratefulheart！’saidGlaucus，greatlymoved；and，unconsciousofthefiresheexcited，herepeatedlykissedherforehead。

’Thouforgivestme，’saidshe，’andthouwilttalknomoreoffreedom；myhappinessistobethyslave：thouhastpromisedthouwiltnotgivemetoanother……’

’Ihavepromised。’

’Andnow，then，Iwillgathertheflowers。’

Silently，NydiatookfromthehandofGlaucusthecostlyandjewelledvase，inwhichtheflowersviedwitheachotherinhueandfragrance；tearlesslyshereceivedhispartingadmonition。Shepausedforamomentwhenhisvoiceceased——shedidnottrustherselftoreply——shesoughthishand——sheraisedittoherlips，droppedherveiloverherface，andpassedatoncefromhispresence。Shepausedagainasshereachedthethreshold；shestretchedherhandstowardsit，andmurmured：

’Threehappydays——daysofunspeakabledelight，haveIknownsinceIpassedthee——blessedthreshold！maypeacedwelleverwiththeewhenIamgone！Andnow，myhearttearsitselffromthee，andtheonlysoundituttersbidsme——die！’

ChapterVI

THEHAPPYBEAUTYANDTHEBLINDSLAVE。

ASLAVEenteredthechamberofIone。AmessengerfromGlaucusdesiredtobeadmitted。

Ionehesitatedaninstant。

’Sheisblind，thatmessenger，’saidtheslave；’shewilldohercommissiontononebutthee。’

Baseisthatheartwhichdoesnotrespectaffliction！Themomentsheheardthemessengerwasblind，Ionefelttheimpossibilityofreturningachillingreply。Glaucushadchosenaheraldthatwasindeedsacred——aheraldthatcouldnotbedenied。

’Whatcanhewantwithme？whatmessagecanhesend？’andtheheartofIonebeatquick。Thecurtainacrossthedoorwaswithdrawn；asoftandecholessstepfelluponthemarble；andNydia，ledbyoneoftheattendants，enteredwithherpreciousgift。

Shestoodstillamoment，asiflisteningforsomesoundthatmightdirecther。

’WillthenobleIone，’saidshe，inasoftandlowvoice，’deigntospeak，thatImayknowwhithertosteerthesebenightedsteps，andthatImaylaymyofferingsatherfeet？’

’Fairchild，’saidIone，touchedandsoothingly，’givenotthyselfthepaintocrosstheseslipperyfloors，myattendantwillbringtomewhatthouhasttopresent’；andshemotionedtothehandmaidtotakethevase。

’Imaygivetheseflowerstononebutthee，’answeredNydia；and，guidedbyherear，shewalkedslowlytotheplacewhereIonesat，andkneelingwhenshecamebeforeher，profferedthevase。

Ionetookitfromherhand，andplaceditonthetableatherside。Shethenraisedhergently，andwouldhaveseatedheronthecouch，butthegirlmodestlyresisted。

’Ihavenotyetdischargedmyoffice，’saidshe；andshedrewtheletterofGlaucusfromhervest。’Thiswill，perhaps，explainwhyhewhosentmechosesounworthyamessengertoIone。’

TheNeapolitantooktheletterwithahand，thetremblingofwhichNydiaatoncefeltandsighedtofeel。Withfoldedarms，anddowncastlooks，shestoodbeforetheproudandstatelyformofIone——nolessproud，perhaps，inherattitudeofsubmission。Ionewavedherhand，andtheattendantswithdrew；shegazedagainupontheformoftheyoungslaveinsurpriseandbeautifulcompassion；then，retiringalittlefromher，sheopenedandreadthefollowingletter：

’GlaucustoIonesendsmorethanhedarestoutter。IsIoneill？thyslavestellme"No"，andthatassurancecomfortsme。HasGlaucusoffendedIone？——ah！thatquestionImaynotaskfromthem。ForfivedaysIhavebeenbanishedfromthypresence。Hasthesunshone？——Iknowitnot。Hastheskysmiled？——ithashadnosmileforme。MysunandmyskyareIone。DoI

offendthee？AmItoobold？DoIsaythatonthetabletwhichmytonguehashesitatedtobreathe？Alas！itisinthineabsencethatIfeelmostthespellsbywhichthouhastsubduedme。Andabsence，thatdeprivesmeofjoy，bringsmecourage。Thouwiltnotseeme；thouhastbanishedalsothecommonflatterersthatflockaroundthee。Canstthouconfoundmewiththem？Itisnotpossible！ThouknowesttoowellthatIamnotofthem——thattheirclayisnotmine。ForevenwereIofthehumblestmould，thefragranceoftherosehaspenetratedme，andthespiritofthynaturehathpassedwithinme，toembalm，tosanctify，toinspire。Havetheyslanderedmetothee，Ione？

Thouwiltnotbelievethem。DidtheDelphicoracleitselftellmethouwertunworthy，Iwouldnotbelieveit；andamIlessincredulousthanthouI

thinkofthelasttimewemet——ofthesongwhichIsangtothee——ofthelookthatthougavestmeinreturn。Disguiseitasthouwilt，Ione，thereissomethingkindredbetweenus，andoureyesacknowledgedit，thoughourlipsweresilent。Deigntoseeme，tolistentome，andafterthatexcludemeifthouwilt。ImeantnotsosoontosayIloved。Butthosewordsrushtomyheart——theywillhaveway。Accept，then，myhomageandmyvows。WemetfirstattheshrineofPallas；shallwenotmeetbeforeasofterandamoreancientaltar？

’Beautiful！adoredIone！IfmyhotyouthandmyAthenianbloodhavemisguidedandalluredme，theyhavebuttaughtmywanderingstoappreciatetherest——thehaventheyhaveattained。IhangupmydrippingrobesontheSea—god’sshrine。Ihaveescapedshipwreck。IhavefoundTHEE。Ione，deigntoseeme；thouartgentletostrangers，wiltthoubelessmercifultothoseofthineownland？Iawaitthyreply。AccepttheflowerswhichI

send——theirsweetbreathhasalanguagemoreeloquentthanwords。Theytakefromthesuntheodoroustheyreturn——theyaretheemblemofthelovethatreceivesandrepaystenfold——theemblemoftheheartthatdrunkthyrays，andowestotheethegermofthetreasuresthatitprofferstothysmile。I

sendthesebyonewhomthouwiltreceiveforherownsake，ifnotformine。

She，likeus，isastranger；herfathers’asheslieunderbrighterskies：

but，lesshappythanwe，sheisblindandaslave。PoorNydia！IseekasmuchaspossibletorepairtoherthecrueltiesofNatureandofFate，inaskingpermissiontoplaceherwiththee。Sheisgentle，quick，anddocile。

Sheisskilledinmusicandthesong；andsheisaveryChloristotheflowers。Shethinks，Ione，thatthouwiltloveher：ifthoudostnot，sendherbacktome。

’Onewordmore——letmebebold，Ione。WhythinkestthousohighlyofyondarkEgyptian？hehathnotabouthimtheairofhonestmen。WeGreekslearnmankindfromourcradle；wearenotthelessprofound，inthatweaffectnosombremien；ourlipssmile，butoureyesaregrave——theyobserve——theynote——theystudy。Arbacesisnotonetobecredulouslytrusted：canitbethathehathwrongedmetothee？Ithinkit，forIlefthimwiththee；thousawesthowmypresencestunghim；sincethenthouhastnotadmittedme。

Believenothingthathecansaytomydisfavor；ifthoudost，tellmesoatonce；forthisIoneowestoGlaucus。Farewell！thislettertouchesthyhand；thesecharactersmeetthineeyes——shalltheybemoreblessedthanhewhoistheirauthor。Oncemore，farewell！’

ItseemedtoIone，asshereadthisletter，asifamisthadfallenfromhereyes。WhathadbeenthesupposedoffenceofGlaucus？——thathehadnotreallyloved！Andnow，plainly，andinnodubiousterms，heconfessedthatlove。Fromthatmomenthispowerwasfullyrestored。Ateverytenderwordinthatletter，sofullofromanticandtrustfulpassion，herheartsmoteher。Andhadshedoubtedhisfaith，andhadshebelievedanother？andhadshenot，atleast，allowedtohimtheculprit’srighttoknowhiscrime，topleadinhisdefence？——thetearsrolleddownhercheeks——shekissedtheletter——sheplaceditinherbosom：and，turningtoNydia，whostoodinthesameplaceandinthesameposture：

’Wiltthousit，mychild，’saidshe，’whileIwriteananswertothisletter？’

’Youwillanswerit，then！’saidNydia，coldly。’Well，theslavethataccompaniedmewilltakebackyouranswer。’

’Foryou，’saidIone，’staywithme——trustme，yourserviceshallbelight。’

Nydiabowedherhead。

’Whatisyourname，fairgirl？’

’TheycallmeNydia。’

’Yourcountry？’

’ThelandofOlympus——Thessaly。’

’Thoushaltbetomeafriend，’saidIone，caressingly，’asthouartalreadyhalfacountrywoman。Meanwhile，Ibeseechthee，standnotonthesecoldandglassymarbles。There！nowthatthouartseated，Icanleavetheeforaninstant。’

’IonetoGlaucusgreeting。Cometome，Glaucus，’wroteIone，’cometometo—morrow。Imayhavebeenunjusttothee；butIwilltellthee，atleast，thefaultthathasbeenimputedtothycharge。Fearnot，henceforth，theEgyptian——fearnone。Thousayestthouhastexpressedtoomuch——alas！inthesehastywordsIhavealreadydoneso。Farewell。’

AsIonereappearedwiththeletter，whichshedidnotdaretoreadaftershehadwritten（Ah！commonrashness，commontimidityoflove！）——Nydiastartedfromherseat。

’YouhavewrittentoGlaucus？’

’Ihave。’

’Andwillhethankthemessengerwhogivestohimthyletter？’

Ioneforgotthathercompanionwasblind；sheblushedfromthebrowtotheneck，andremainedsilent。

’Imeanthis，’addedNydia，inacalmertone；’thelightestwordofcoldnessfromtheewillsaddenhim——thelightestkindnesswillrejoice。Ifitbethefirst，lettheslavetakebackthineanswer；ifitbethelast，letme——I

willreturnthisevening’

’Andwhy，Nydia，’askedIone，evasively，’Wouldstthoubethebearerofmyletter？’

’Itisso，then！’saidNydia。’Ah！howcoulditbeotherwise；whocouldbeunkindtoGlaucus？’

’Mychild，’saidIone，alittlemorereservedlythanbefore，’thouspeakestwarmly——Glaucus，then，isamiableinthineeyes？’

’NobleIone！Glaucushasbeenthattomewhichneitherfortunenorthegodshavebeen——afriend！’

ThesadnessmingledwithdignitywithwhichNydiautteredthesesimplewords，affectedthebeautifulIone：shebentdownandkissedher。’Thouartgrateful，anddeservedlyso；whyshouldIblushtosaythatGlaucusisworthyofthygratitude？Go，myNydia——taketohimthyselfthisletter——butreturnagain。IfIamfromhomewhenthoureturnest——asthisevening，perhaps，Ishallbe——thychambershallbepreparednextmyown。Nydia，I

havenosister——wiltthoubeonetome？’TheThessaliankissedthehandofIone，andthensaid，withsomeembarrassment：

’Onefavor，fairIone——mayIdaretoaskit？’

’ThoucanstnotaskwhatIwillnotgrant，’repliedtheNeapolitan。

’Theytellme，’saidNydia，’thatthouartbeautifulbeyondthelovelinessofearth。Alas！Icannotseethatwhichgladdenstheworld！Wiltthousufferme，then，topassmyhandoverthyface？——thatismysolecriterionofbeauty，andIusuallyguessaright。’

ShedidnotwaitfortheanswerofIone，but，asshespoke，gentlyandslowlypassedherhandoverthebendingandhalf—avertedfeaturesoftheGreek——featureswhichbutoneimageintheworldcanyetdepictureandrecall——thatimageisthemutilated，butall—wondrous，statueinhernativecity——herownNeapolis——thatParianface，beforewhichallthebeautyoftheFlorentineVenusispoorandearthly——thataspectsofullofharmony——ofyouth——ofgenius——ofthesoul——whichmoderncriticshavesupposedtherepresentationofPsyche。

Hertouchlingeredoverthebraidedhairandpolishedbrow——overthedownyanddamaskcheek——overthedimpledlip——theswan—likeandwhitishneck。’I

knownow，thatthouartbeautiful，’shesaid：’andIcanpicturetheetomydarknesshenceforth，andforever！’

WhenNydialefther，Ionesankintoadeepbutdeliciousreverie。Glaucusthenlovedher；heownedit——yes，helovedher。Shedrewforthagainthatdearconfession；shepausedovereveryword，shekissedeveryline；shedidnotaskwhyhehadbeenmaligned，sheonlyfeltassuredthathehadbeenso。

Shewonderedhowshehadeverbelievedasyllableagainsthim；shewonderedhowtheEgyptianhadbeenenabledtoexerciseapoweragainstGlaucus；shefeltachillcreepoverherassheagainturnedtohiswarningagainstArbaces，andhersecretfearofthatgloomybeingdarkenedintoawe。Shewasawakenedfromthesethoughtsbyhermaidens，whocametoannouncetoherthatthehourappointedtovisitArbaceswasarrived；shestarted，shehadforgottenthepromise。Herfirstimpressionwastorenounceit；hersecond，wastolaughatherownfearsofhereldestsurvivingfriend。Shehastenedtoaddtheusualornamentstoherdress，anddoubtfulwhethersheshouldyetquestiontheEgyptianmorecloselywithrespecttohisaccusationofGlaucus，orwhethersheshouldwaittill，withoutcitingtheauthority，sheshouldinsinuatetoGlaucustheaccusationitself，shetookherwaytothegloomymansionofArbaces。

ChapterVII

IONEENTRAPPED。THEMOUSETRIESTOGNAWTHENET。

’DEARESTNydia！’exclaimedGlaucusashereadtheletterofIone，’whitestrobedmessengerthateverpassedbetweenearthandheaven——how，howshallI

thankthee？’

’Iamrewarded，’saidthepoorThessalian。

’To—morrow——to—morrow！howshallIwhilethehourstillthen？’

TheenamouredGreekwouldnotletNydiaescapehim，thoughshesoughtseveraltimestoleavethechamber；hemadeherrecitetohimoverandoveragaineverysyllableofthebriefconversationthathadtakenplacebetweenherandIone；athousandtimes，forgettinghermisfortune，hequestionedherofthelooks，ofthecountenanceofhisbeloved；andthenquicklyagainexcusinghisfault，hebadeherrecommencethewholerecitalwhichhehadthusinterrupted。ThehoursthuspainfultoNydiapassedrapidlyanddelightfullytohim，andthetwilighthadalreadydarkenedereheoncemoredismissedhertoIonewithafreshletterandwithnewflowers。Scarcelyhadshegone，thanClodiusandseveralofhisgaycompanionsbrokeinuponhim；theyralliedhimonhisseclusionduringthewholeday，andabsencefromhiscustomaryhaunts；theyinvitedhimtoaccompanythemtothevariousresortsinthatlivelycity，whichnightanddayproffereddiversitytopleasure。Then，asnow，inthesouth（fornoland，perhaps，losingmoreofgreatnesshasretainedmoreofcustom），itwasthedelightoftheItalianstoassembleattheevening；and，undertheporticoesoftemplesortheshadeofthegrovesthatinterspersedthestreets，listeningtomusicortherecitalsofsomeinventivetale—teller，theyhailedtherisingmoonwithlibationsofwineandthemelodiesofsong。Glaucuswastoohappytobeunsocial；helongedtocastofftheexuberanceofjoythatoppressedhim。

Hewillinglyacceptedtheproposalofhiscomrades，andlaughinglytheysalliedouttogetherdownthepopulousandglitteringstreets。

InthemeantimeNydiaoncemoregainedthehouseofIone，whohadlongleftit；sheinquiredindifferentlywhitherIonehadgone。

Theanswerarrestedandappalledher。

’TothehouseofArbaces——oftheEgyptian？Impossible！’

’Itistrue，mylittleone，’saidtheslave，whohadrepliedtoherquestion。’ShehasknowntheEgyptianlong。’

’Long！yegods，yetGlaucuslovesher？’murmuredNydiatoherself。

’Andhas，’askedshealoud，’hassheoftenvisitedhimbefore？’

’Nevertillnow，’answeredtheslave。’IfalltherumoredscandalofPompeiibetrue，itwouldbebetter，perhaps，ifshehadnotventuredthereatpresent。Butshe，poormistressmine，hearsnothingofthatwhichreachesus；thetalkofthevestibulumreachesnottotheperistyle。’

’Nevertillnow！’repeatedNydia。’Artthousure？’

’Sure，prettyone：butwhatisthattotheeortous？’

Nydiahesitatedamoment，andthen，puttingdowntheflowerswithwhichshehadbeencharged，shecalledtotheslavewhohadaccompaniedher，andleftthehousewithoutsayinganotherword。

Nottillshehadgothalf—waybacktothehouseofGlaucusdidshebreaksilence，andeventhensheonlymurmuredinly：

’Shedoesnotdream——shecannot——ofthedangersintowhichshehasplunged。

FoolthatIam——shallIsaveher？——yes，forIloveGlaucusbetterthanmyself。’

WhenshearrivedatthehouseoftheAthenian，shelearntthathehadgoneoutwithapartyofhisfriends，andnoneknewwhither。Heprobablywouldnotbehomebeforemidnight。

TheThessaliangroaned；shesankuponaseatinthehallandcoveredherfacewithherhandsasiftocollectherthoughts。’Thereisnotimetobelost，’thoughtshe，startingup。Sheturnedtotheslavewhohadaccompaniedher。

’Knowestthou，’saidshe，’ifIonehasanyrelative，anyintimatefriendatPompeii？’

’Why，byJupiter！’answeredtheslave，’artthousillyenoughtoaskthequestion？EveryoneinPompeiiknowsthatIonehasabrotherwho，youngandrich，hasbeen——undertheroseIspeak——sofoolishastobecomeapriestofIsis。’

’ApriestofIsis！OGods！hisname？’

’Apaecides。’

’Iknowitall，’mutteredNydia：’brotherandsister，then，aretobebothvictims！Apaecides！yes，thatwasthenameIheardin……Ha！hewell，then，knowstheperilthatsurroundshissister；Iwillgotohim。’

Shesprangupatthatthought，andtakingthestaffwhichalwaysguidedhersteps，shehastenedtotheneighboringshrineofIsis。TillshehadbeenundertheguardianshipofthekindlyGreek，thatstaffhadsufficedtoconductthepoorblindgirlfromcornertocornerofPompeii。Everystreet，everyturninginthemorefrequentedparts，wasfamiliartoher；andastheinhabitantsentertainedatenderandhalf—superstitiousvenerationforthosesubjecttoherinfirmity，thepassengershadalwaysgivenwaytohertimidsteps。Poorgirl，shelittledreamedthatsheshould，eremanydayswerepassed，findherblindnessherprotection，andaguidefarsaferthanthekeenesteyes！

ButsinceshehadbeenundertheroofofGlaucus，hehadorderedaslavetoaccompanyheralways；andthepoordevilthusappointed，whowassomewhatofthefattest，andwho，afterhavingtwiceperformedthejourneytoIone’shouse，nowsawhimselfcondemnedtoathirdexcursion（whitherthegodsonlyknew），hastenedafterher，deploringhisfate，andsolemnlyassuringCastorandPolluxthathebelievedtheblindgirlhadthetalariaofMercuryaswellastheinfirmityofCupid。

Nydia，however，requiredbutlittleofhisassistancetofindherwaytothepopulartempleofIsis：thespacebeforeitwasnowdeserted，andshewonwithoutobstacletothesacredrail。

’Thereisnoonehere，’saidthefatslave。’Whatdostthouwant，orwhomKnowestthounotthatthepriestsdonotliveinthetemple？’

’Callout，’saidshe，impatiently；’nightanddaythereisalwaysoneflamen，atleast，watchingintheshrineofIsis。’

Theslavecalled——nooneappeared。

’Seestthounoone？’

’Noone。’

’Thoumistakest；Ihearasigh：lookagain。’

Theslave，wonderingandgrumbling，castroundhisheavyeyes，andbeforeoneofthealtars，whoseremainsstillcrowdthenarrowspace，hebeheldaformbendingasinmeditation。

’Iseeafigure，saidhe；’andbythewhitegarments，itisapriest。’

’OflamenofIsis！’criedNydia；’servantoftheMostAncient，hearme！’

’Whocalls？’saidalowandmelancholyvoice。

’Onewhohasnocommontidingstoimparttoamemberofyourbody：Icometodeclareandnottoaskoracles。’

’Withwhomwouldstthouconfer？Thisisnohourforthyconference；depart，disturbmenot；thenightissacredtothegods，thedaytomen。’

’MethinksIknowthyvoice？thouarthewhomIseek；yetIhaveheardtheespeakbutoncebefore。ArtthounotthepriestApaecides？’

’Iamthatman，’repliedthepriest，emergingfromthealtar，andapproachingtherail。

’Thouart！thegodsbepraised！’Wavingherhandtotheslave，shebadehimwithdrawtoadistance；andhe，whonaturallyimaginedsomesuperstitionconnected，perhaps，withthesafetyofIone，couldaloneleadhertothetemple，obeyed，andseatedhimselfontheground，atalittledistance。

’Hush！’saidshe，speakingquickandlow；’artthouindeedApaecides？’

’Ifthouknowestme，canstthounotrecallmyfeatures？’

’Iamblind，’answeredNydia；’myeyesareinmyear，andthatrecognizesthee：yetswearthatthouarthe。’

’BythegodsIswearit，bymyrighthand，andbythemoon！’

’Hush！speaklow——bendnear——givemethyhand；knowestthouArbaces？Hastthoulaidflowersatthefeetofthedead？Ah！thyhandiscold——harkyet！——hastthoutakentheawfulvow？’

’Whoartthou，whencecomestthou，palemaiden？’saidApaecides，fearfully：

’Iknowtheenot；thineisnotthebreastonwhichthisheadhathlain；I

haveneverseentheebefore。’

’Butthouhastheardmyvoice：nomatter，thoserecollectionsitshouldshameusbothtorecall。Listen，thouhastasister。’

’Speak！speak！whatofher？’

’Thouknowestthebanquetsofthedead，stranger——itpleasesthee，perhaps，tosharethem——woulditpleasetheetohavethysisterapartaker？WoulditpleasetheethatArbaceswasherhost？’

’Ogods，hedarenot！Girl，ifthoumockestme，tremble！Iwillteartheelimbfromlimb！’

’Ispeakthetruth；andwhileIspeak，IoneisinthehallsofArbaces——forthefirsttimehisguest。Thouknowestiftherebeperilinthatfirsttime！Farewell！Ihavefulfilledmycharge。’

’Stay！stay！’criedthepriest，passinghiswanhandoverhisbrow。’Ifthisbetrue，what——whatcanbedonetosaveher？Theymaynotadmitme。I

knownotallthemazesofthatintricatemansion。ONemesis！justlyamI

punished！’

’Iwilldismissyonslave，bethoumyguideandcomrade；Iwillleadtheetotheprivatedoorofthehouse：Iwillwhispertotheethewordwhichadmits。

Takesomeweapon：itmaybeneedful！’

’Waitaninstant，’saidApaecides，retiringintooneofthecellsthatflankthetemple，andreappearinginafewmomentswrappedinalargecloak，whichwasthenmuchwornbyallclasses，andwhichconcealedhissacreddress。

’Now，’hesaid，grindinghisteeth，’ifArbaceshathdaredto——buthedarenot！hedarenot！WhyshouldIsuspecthim？Ishesobaseavillain？I

willnotthinkit——yet，sophist！darkbewildererthatheis！Ogodsprotect——hush！aretheregods？Yes，thereisonegoddess，atleast，whosevoiceIcancommand；andthatis——Vengeance！’

Mutteringthesedisconnectedthoughts，Apaecides，followedbyhissilentandsightlesscompanion，hastenedthroughthemostsolitarypathstothehouseoftheEgyptian。

Theslave，abruptlydismissedbyNydia，shruggedhisshoulders，mutteredanadjuration，and，nothingloath，rolledofftohiscubiculum。